dig
/dɪɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdig/ (ame, mw)
dig — verb
- digpresent simple I / you / we / they
- digshe / she / it
- dugpast simple
- digging-ing form
1. to create a hole or opening in the ground by taking away earth with your hands,
to create a hole or opening in the ground by taking away earth with your hands, a shovel, or a machine, often when preparing land for planting seeds or putting up a structure
Layla dug a shallow hole in the backyard with a small shovel.
dig + noun + location phrase
The farmer spent the whole morning digging in the field before the rains came.
intransitive: dig + adverbial of place
Adina watched her mother dig up the hard soil for the new fence posts.
The ground was too dry to dig without first pouring water on it.
Joon and his brother dug together, taking turns with the heavy pickaxe.
文法句型
dig + noun (location)
dig + adverbial
dig + adverbial of direction
用法筆記
This sense is the core physical meaning of dig. Both transitive (dig something) and intransitive (dig in something) patterns are equally common. The phrasal verb dig up is frequently used with this sense to mean 'remove soil from the ground'.
常見錯誤
2. to make a hole, channel, or hollow space in the ground by removing material from
to make a hole, channel, or hollow space in the ground by removing material from that space
The workers dug a tunnel through the mountain for the new railway line.
dig + noun (structure/result) through + medium
Devika dug a small pit in the sand for the campfire.
Théo and his friends dug a deep trench around their tent to stop the rain.
The rescue team dug a narrow channel through the rubble to reach the trapped people.
A narrow passage had been dug under the wall for the pipes to go through.
- fill in
to put material back into a hole so it disappears
文法句型
dig + noun (hole/pit/tunnel)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (BREAK UP SOIL): sense 1 focuses on the action of moving soil, while sense 2 focuses on the result or structure created. You dig (up) a garden bed (sense 1), but you dig a hole or tunnel (sense 2). The object in this sense names the cavity itself.
3. to remove something buried or hidden from the ground by using a tool or your han
to remove something buried or hidden from the ground by using a tool or your hands to get it out
The children dug old coins out of the sand at the beach.
dig + noun + out of + place
Nicholas dug up the potatoes he had planted three months earlier.
dig up + noun (crops)
The archaeologists dug several ancient pots from the burial site.
Mayumi carefully dug the weed out of the flowerbed so the roots came out too.
After the storm, Roya dug her bicycle out from under the fallen leaves.
文法句型
dig + noun (object) out/up
dig + noun + from + noun
用法筆記
The particle up (dig up) or out (dig out) is very common with this sense. Dig up is used for crops, buried objects, or bodies; dig out is used when something is covered or trapped and needs freeing. The simple transitive pattern (dig potatoes) is less common without a particle.
常見錯誤
4. to search or look carefully through a bag, pile, container, or collection of ite
to search or look carefully through a bag, pile, container, or collection of items, trying to locate a specific object or a fact you need
Élise dug into her handbag for the keys but could not find them.
dig into + container + for + object
The reporter dug through old newspaper records to find the truth.
dig through + noun (collection) + infinitive of purpose
Asher dug around in the drawer looking for a pen that still had ink.
Saira dug deeper into the online archives to find information about her family.
The students dug for the answers in the library instead of asking the teacher.
文法句型
dig + into + noun
dig + through + noun
dig + for + noun
dig + around
用法筆記
This sense is often used figuratively — you are not digging in soil but searching through papers, documents, bags, or digital files. Common prepositional patterns are dig into, dig through, and dig for. The sense can carry a feeling of effort: you dig when the thing is hard to find.
常見錯誤
5. to push someone lightly with a finger or elbow, often done so that the person no
to push someone lightly with a finger or elbow, often done so that the person notices something or to share a private joke or opinion with them
Maeve dug her brother in the ribs when the teacher said something funny.
dig + person + in + body part
Felipe dug Christopher with his elbow and whispered that the meeting was over.
During the play, Eve dug her friend and pointed at the actor on stage.
Greta dug her friend in the ribs during the boring speech to share her amusement.
The old man dug me in the arm and said, 'Did you see that?'
文法句型
dig + noun (person) + in + body part
用法筆記
Commonly used with in + a body part (in the ribs, in the arm). The action is usually quick and light — a poke or nudge, not a hard push. This sense is less common in American English, where nudge is more frequent for this meaning.
常見錯誤
6. in volleyball, to receive a hard-hit ball with your forearms and both hands held
in volleyball, to receive a hard-hit ball with your forearms and both hands held together, stopping the ball from hitting the floor and sending it upward to a teammate
Heloísa dug the spike and sent the ball straight to the setter.
transitive: dig + noun (the ball type)
The player dug low and fast to keep the rally going.
intransitive: dig + adverbial of manner
Madison missed the first serve but dug the second one perfectly.
The team practised digging hard-driven balls from all directions.
Good digging requires keeping your arms straight and your eyes on the ball.
文法句型
dig + noun (ball)
dig for the ball
用法筆記
This is a technical term used in volleyball. The verb and noun form are identical (a dig is the action of digging). Beginners often confuse it with a set or a pass — a dig specifically receives a hard-hit or served ball using the forearms.
7. to like, enjoy, or approve of something very much, or to understand and apprecia
to like, enjoy, or approve of something very much, or to understand and appreciate something such as music, art, or someone's way of thinking
Amani said she really digs the new album by that band.
informal: dig + noun (art/music)
Théo does not dig classical music but loves jazz and hip hop.
I dig that you want to help, but the decision is not yours to make.
The older students did not dig the new teacher's strict rules at first.
Soraya's friends all dig her sense of humour and her energy.
- like
neutral register; less emphatic than dig
- love
stronger than dig but not slang
- be into
similar register to dig; also informal
- appreciate
more formal; less emotional
文法句型
dig + noun/pronoun
dig + that-clause
用法筆記
This sense is strictly informal (slang). Common in casual conversation but inappropriate in formal writing or exams. It was especially popular in 1960s–70s counterculture but remains in everyday use. The frequency is highest among younger speakers.
常見錯誤
dig — noun
- digsingular
- digsplural
1. a short, sharp comment meant to embarrass or criticise someone, or to make other
a short, sharp comment meant to embarrass or criticise someone, or to make other people laugh at them
Eve could not resist making a dig at her brother about his terrible haircut.
make a dig at + person + about + topic
The comedian's digs at the politicians had the whole audience laughing.
Christopher took the comment as a personal dig and walked out of the room.
The review contained a few digs at the director's earlier films.
Amani's friends exchanged playful digs about each other's cooking all evening.
- compliment
a positive remark praising someone
用法筆記
Typically used in the phrase make a dig at someone or have a dig at someone. The tone can range from playful teasing (playful dig) to harsh criticism (nasty dig). It is countable — one dig, several digs.
常見錯誤
2. a place where archaeologists dig up and study ancient objects from the ground; o
a place where archaeologists dig up and study ancient objects from the ground; or the activity of doing such work at a historical site
The students spent the summer working on a Roman dig in the south of France.
on + a/an + location/period + dig
The dig revealed pottery that was over two thousand years old.
Nicholas volunteered at an archaeological dig near his village last summer.
The dig was closed to visitors while the team worked on the ancient burial site.
Felipe decided to study archaeology after visiting a dig in Egypt with his family.
- excavation
more formal; the standard technical term in archaeology
- site
broader; any place where something happened, not only digging
用法筆記
Frequently used with an adjective specifying the period or type (a Roman dig, an archaeological dig). The word can refer both to the physical site (the place where digging happens) and the project (the organized activity of excavation).
3. in volleyball, the action of receiving a hard-hit ball with your forearms and st
in volleyball, the action of receiving a hard-hit ball with your forearms and stopping it from hitting the floor
Soraya made a perfect dig that saved the point for her team.
make a dig — common verb collocation
The setter called for a dig right before the ball came over the net.
Her quick dig surprised the other team and started a strong attack.
The coach told the players to focus on their digging technique during practice.
Madison's dig was so low that no one saw it coming.
用法筆記
The noun and verb form are identical. As a noun, dig is countable and commonly combines with make (make a dig), have (have a good dig), or practice (practice digs).
4. a room or set of rooms that someone rents to live in, especially temporarily or
a room or set of rooms that someone rents to live in, especially temporarily or as a student
Asher moved into his new digs near the university campus last week.
plural form: digs
The students found some cheap digs in the older part of the city.
Élise invited her classmates over to see her new digs.
The band stayed in rented digs while they recorded their album in London.
His digs were small but clean, with a desk by the window for studying.
- lodgings
more formal; the standard word dig is short for
- accommodation
more general; covers all types of housing
- place
informal; very common in casual speech
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form (digs, not dig). This is an informal British usage. In American English, place or apartment would be more common. The word carries a slightly old-fashioned or student-oriented feel.
常見錯誤
dig — abbreviation
1. written abbreviation for digest: a short written summary or collection of inform
written abbreviation for digest: a short written summary or collection of information, news, or articles
For a detailed account of the study, see Reader's Dig. 2024, 58(3), 22–29.
bibliographic citation: 'Title Abbrev. Year, Vol(Issue), Pages'
The library catalogue lists the item as J. Med. Dig. 2023, 45(2), 87–92.
catalogue listing: abbreviated journal name
A summary of the findings appears in Sci. Dig. 2022, 12(4), 55.
For further reading on this topic, consult Eng. Lit. Dig. 2021, 33(1), 14–18.
用法筆記
This abbreviation is mostly found in publishing contexts, cataloguing, or academic reference systems. It is not common in everyday spoken English.